Is CBD safe for my pets?

Is CBD safe for my pet?

Yes, but maybe not! Read more to find out why...

You’ve likely heard how CBD is changing lives because of it’s balancing capabilities. Parents are using it, athletes are using it, children are using it, and most importantly, doctors are recommending it! So the question is, can my pet benefit from CBD just like a human can?

Before you rush out to buy your furry family a bottle of CBD, it’s important to know what you are looking for because some products could be harmful, even fatal to our pets.

Because the human body (and every other vertebrate) actually produces cannabinoids naturally, it requires them for proper balance and function, like any other hormone. When hormones are out of balance, the body doesn’t function optimally. Once the cannabinoids are replenished in the system, the body can resume it’s normal functions properly. Many CBD products are sweetened with Xylitol, which can be fatal to pets.

It’s also important to use a product that is endorsed by an actual Veterinarian. All animals metabolize supplements differently and the dosing is quite different because of that. A “typical” human dose is 1ml daily. Our pets dosage varies based on their size and the type of animal. Generally speaking, a cat or dog would need 1/10 of a human dose (1ml) per 20lbs of weight. Horses metabolize quite differently. One would assume that they would need a larger dose than a human, however they require a dose only slightly less than a human dose.

Some brands offer a dedicated pet brand of CBD, even flavored with bacon. While this seems to be a great concept, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have to buy yet another product for my pet if they can simply use the same one that my family and I can use. Pets are excited to lick anything off of your finger, so I’m not convinced that spending extra money for a specific pet flavored product is worth it.

If you opt for a water soluble CBD supplement, you could add the dose to the animal’s water bowl. From my experience, the most effective mode of administration is to simply have your pet lick the drops off of your finger. This ensures faster absorption and results.

The cool thing about pets and supplements is that it’s quite obvious whether or not a product is working. Humans can claim the placebo effect in many cases, however pets brains don’t understand that a supplement is supposed to help them. The results are undeniable since their brain can’t convince them one way or the other regarding the efficacy.

In case you are wondering what benefits you may see after giving your pet a CBD supplement, we have compiled a list of benefits for your furry family!